Apparatus for production packaging of aerosol products



Nov. 24, 1964 Filed April FIG.|

R. B. STANLEY ETAL APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 G) Y m INVENTOR.

RICHARD B. STANLEY y ROY s. ROUSSEAU A MWM+WW.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,157,974

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS Filed April 6, 1962 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 7e FIGZ 4; 6L il INVENTORS RICHARD B. STANLEY By ROY S.ROUSSEAU ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,157,974

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS Filed April 6, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INFEED i C OUTFEED FIGBA FIGBB VACUUM CAPPlCK-UP PRE SURE FILL FIG. 9A. I

INFEED yAcuuM CAPPICKUF' AND presssuns FILL Lm p g x UT "55 I F169. A {I .lll "Ill k '1 -I|l| I 'I I INFEED VACUUM PRESSURE FILL CRIMPING OUTFEED CAPPlCK-UP INVENTORS RICHARD B. STANLEY BY ROY S. ROUSSEAU ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,157,974

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS Filed April 6, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS RICHARD B. STANLEY y ROY s. ROUSSEAU MW ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,157,974

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS Filed April 6, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 VENTORS AR .STA Y By S. ROUSSE MM WV Wm ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,157,974

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS Filed April 6, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS RICHARD B. STANLEY fl BY ROY $.ROU

ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3,157,974

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS Filed April 6, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 mum 25 l 1 INVENTOR.

RICHARD B. STANLEY y ROY S. ROUSSEAU I" gi /7W, Wm

/ ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 STANLEY ETAL 3,157,974

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING OF AEROSOL PRODUCTS Filed April 6, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 |s7 I n Inn 140 FIG. 26 [I62 |4| I668 '52 I 1. [III III lgo I64 b L 7 INVENTORS RICHARD B. STANLEY I69 BY ROY s. ROUSSEAU ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,157,974 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION PACKAGING 0F AEROSGL PRODUCTS Richard B. Staniey, Park Ridge, and Roy S. Rousseau,

Mount Prospect, Ill, assignors to The Kartridg Pair (10., Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Apr. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 185,644 21 Claim. (431.53-88) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for production packaging of aerosol products and more particularly relates to pressure filling a metered quantity of propellant into a container by holding the closure cap above the container while filling the same with propellant and thereafter sealing the cap to the charged container.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 75,414, filed December 12, 1960.

The invention offers important advantages over the known technique of pressure filling propellant through the valve of a closure cap that has previousl been sealed to the container. In the present invention, the speed of fill is no longer restricted because of the small size of the valve passage; the space requirements of the production line are reduced by consolidating the separate functions of filling and sealing into a single apparatus; the increased filling rate permits of handling larger containers and greater volumes of fill; and the possibility of valve damage is eliminated and valves already equipped with tips may be used thereby eliminating the labor cost of manual placement of the valve tips on the valves.

Similarly, the invention offers important advantages over the other well known technique of cold filling propellant (in liquid phase) into the container and thereafter applying and sealing the closure cap. In the present invention, the accuracy of metered volumetric filling is a marked improvement over the timed gravity flow technique used in cold filling. The need for equipment for refrigerating the product and the propellant is eliminated and correspondingly the high initial cost as well as the operating and maintenance costs for such equipment is eliminated; and the loss of time and the labor cost involved in change-overs of refrigerated products and in cleaning of lengthy refrigerator coils is eliminated. Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved method and apparatus offering the above named advantages in production line application to the pressure filling of metered quantities of liquid propellant into containers and to the mounting and sealing of closure caps on the filled containers at a single station.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement of the above type utilizing a rotary table having a plurality of operating stations each equipped with facilities for first filling and thereafter sealing aerosol containers.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved operating station arrangement having separate crimping and pressure filling heads controlled in predetermined timed relation to act in sequence for carrying out the required filling and sealing functions.

An additional object is the provision of a universal head directly engageable with the container for elevating the closure cap thereon, evacuating vapors, air or gas from the container, feeding the propellant into the container under pressure, seating the closure cap and finally sealing the cap to the container.

Another object is the provision of a pressure filler head for supplying accurately metered quantities of propellant for delivery in liquid form, through the universal head and into the container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be I 3,157,974 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 come apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the over-all coneyor and turntable arrangement of the aerosol production packaging apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view and is taken approximately on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a typical operating station on the turntable;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the conveyor feed screw mechanism;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed sectional views taken on the lines 55 and 66, respectively of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the container flow path and processing sequence embodied in the production packaging apparatus;

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D are diagrammatic pictorial views illustrating the various operations performed in filling and sealing a container;

FIG. 9 is a timing chart picturing the relative relationships of the inner related cam tracks on the turntable;

FIG. 9A is a timing chart picturing the relationship of the cam tracks on the turntable of a modified form of the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the conveyor and turntable illustrating the layout of the operating stations in relation to the container feeding and transferring apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the conveyor and turntable better illustrating certain details thereof;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dial plate of the turntable;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view through the central distributor and rotary seal arrangement of the turntable;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken approximately on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of an operating post and mounting bracket assembly;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a reciprocating post assembly;

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view through a pressure filler head;

FIG. 18 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional view through the lower end of a pressure filler head illustrating the parts thereof in the position occupied at the end of the discharge stroke;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the action of a trigger mechanism for controlling discharge of a pressure filler head;

FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional view through acrimper head;

FIG. 22 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 22- 22 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 23- 23 of FIG. 21; and

FIGS. 24, 25 and 26 are vertical sectional views through the lower end of a crimper head illustrating the parts thereof in the cap pickup, the pressure filler and the crimp positions, respectively.

General Arrangement and Operation The production line apparatus for filling and sealing aerosol containers is shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2 and as illustrated therein for purposes of disclosure, it includes a main conveyor line having an infeed section 20 and an outfeed section 21, with a turntable 22 interposed between the sections to form a rotary link that consoli- 3 dates the filling and sealing operations and provides increased processing time for the containers that are handled on the main conveyor line.

For purposes of general description, reference should be had to the container flow diagram in FIG. 7 wherein the infeed and outfeed sections are shown leading up to and away from the generally circular path of the rotary link. The circular path is divided into arcuate sub-sections to indicate the sequential operations that are performed upon the containers as they are moved through this rotary link. The various operations are depicted in FIG. 8, and a timing chart of the controlling cam track configurations is illustrated in FIG. 9 and is referred to hereinafter to better relate the sequence of operations that are performed by the present apparatus.

In the arrangement illustrated for purposes of disclosure, each of the containers C on the infeed section of the conveyor has already been filled with the desired product and a closure or valve cap K is seated loosely in the top of each container. As will be apparent, the conveyor line moves continuously and the turntable 22 rotates continuously. As indicated on the diagram of FIG. 7, during the first segment of the turntables rotary motion, an infeed operation is carried out wherein the container is transferred from the infeed section onto the turntable and is accurately located at one of the operating stations provided on the turntable. During the next segment of the turntables rotation, as diagrammed in FIG. 7 and as illustrated in FIG. 8A, a vacuum is drawn across the top of the container to elevate the closure K and exhaust the air from the container. During the next segment of the turntables rotation, and as indicated in FIG. 8B, the vacuum is maintained while a collet 23 is lowered into mechanical gripping engagement within the closure. In order for the collet to mechanically engage and pick up the closure, it moves downwardly to seat the closure momentarily within the top of the container and thereafter, as indicated in FIG. 8C, the collet is retracted upwardly to elevate the closure sufi'iciently to provide clearance around the sides and bottom of the closure for filling pressurized liquid propellant into the open top of the container. The operation which is shown in FIG. 8C occupies a 100 segment of the turntables rotation, as indicated in FIG. 7. After the propellant-filling step is completed, the collet is then lowered to seat the closure in the top of the container and is then expanded to seal the closure across the container and complete the packaging operation. The final segment of the rotational movement of the turntable is devoted to the discharge of the container, which is then transfered to the outfeed section 21 of the conveyor line to feed the filled and pressurized container through various associated equipment, such as hot water test tanks, labeling machines, and the like.

Container Handling Apparatus The basic arrangement of the conveyor line, the transfer apparatus, and the turntable are shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, which better illustrate the physical details of construction of the complete apparatus that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The conveyor is represented as having a single endless table top type link chain 24 with a pair of guide rails 25 being disposed in flanking relation along the infeed section of this conveyor chain and a separate pair of guide rails 26 being similarly disposed along the outfeed section of this chain. The guide rails of each section are carried on laterally adjustable mounting posts 27 which are slidable in mounting blocks 28 to accommodate adjustment in the spacing of the rails in conformity with the size of the containers that are being handled.

As indicated in FIG. 10, the turntable 22 includes a rotatable dial plate 22P which, in the arrangement illustrated herein for purposes of disclosure, is provided with six evenly spaced pairs of vertically reciprocable post assemblies 29 and 36 which index or define six operating stations on the dial plate. The post assembly 29 of each station has a set of locating buttons 298 (FIG. 12) associated with it to define a mounting niche for receiving and accurately locating the container that is to be processed at the particular operating station.

The turntable comprises a cylindrical base drum 31, a barrel earn in the form of a skirt 32 encircling the upper end of the drum and provided with endless cam tracks 33 and 34, respectively, a center post 35 mounted in and extending above the drum, and a rotating hub 36 journalled about the center post. The dial plate 221 is secured around the bottom end of the hub and is of sufficient size to project beyond the barrel cam skirt, with the operating post assemblies 29 and 36 being located in a ring or circle on a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the barrel cam skirt.

The base drum 31 also carries an outboard support housing 37 that is fitted with a set of four upstanding tubular posts arranged in inner and outer pairs 38A and 3813 respectively. The innermost pair of posts 38A carries a transfer plate 39 that is disposed at the same elevation as are the dial plate and the main conveyor surface. Infced and outfeed star wheels 4t) and 41, respectively, are carried on spindles 40S and 418 (see FIG. 2) journalled in the inner pair of posts. The transfer plate 39 is fitted with guide structure 42 arranged midway between the star wheels to define crescent-shaped infeed and outfeed transfer rails 43 and 44, respectively. The transfer plate is also equipped with a tangent guide rail 45 at the infeed to the turntable, this guide rail being positioned and shaped to assist the star wheel it) in accurately delivering the container to the proper position in one of the mounting niches defined by the buttons 31. Finally, on the discharge side, the transfer plate is fitted with another tangent guide rail 46 that maintains the container in proper position on the turntable for pick-up by the outfeed star wheel.

As is explained in detail hereinafter, a separate springloaded mechanism, such as is indicated generally at 47 in FIGS. 1 and 2, is associated with each containermounting niche to continuously urge the containers away from their proper seated position defined by the locating buttons 2913. During most of the circular travel of each container on the turntable, it is mechanically gripped and held in place by a head mechanism carried on the post 29. In order, however, to initially seat the container against its locating buttons in the presence of the opposing spring forces, the infeed tangent guide rail 45 constrains the container to move into and remain in properly seated position to permit the head mechanism to establish proper engagement therewith. correspondingly, the outfeed tangent guide rail 46 restrains the container following its release by the feed mechanism at the approach to the outfeed star wheel 41.

The outermost pair of support posts 388 (FIGS. 2 and 4) are bridged by a reinforcement plate 48 on one end of which a variable pitch worm screw type container accelerating mechanism 49 is mounted in position for feeding containers from the consolidated relationship in which they are fed along the infeed section 20 of the conveyor to deliver the containers individually and in predetermined timed relationship to facilitate their transfer to the turntable by the infeed star wheel 40. The star wheel 40 is synchronized with the turntable so that the containers are delivered to the successive operating stations in properly timed relationship.

The container feed worm element 50 has its opposite ends journalled in aligned bearings 51 and 52 provided in a generally semi-cylindrical protective shell 'or housing 53. At one end this shell 53 is fitted with an integral support journal 54 which is rotatably adjustable in an elongated bearing block 528 to support the shell in cantilever fashion. Hand screws 528 in the bearing block press against the journal 54 to fix the shell at any desired rotational position therein. The support journal 54 has a lengthwise extending off-center bore 548 in which a rotatable worm drive rod 55 is mounted. A sleeve-type coupling 56 connects the drive rod 55 to the worm 50, and a set screw is provided in this coupling to accommodate adjustment of the rotational position of the worm with respect to its drive rod. The other end of the drive rod 55 is fitted with a pinion gear 55F (FIG. 6) which is engaged internally within a cup-shaped drive gear 55D, with the pinion gear undergoing planetary motion with respect to the drive gear.

The drive gear 551) is coaxial with the journal 55, and the oif-center relationship between the drive gear and pinion gear permits a range of adjustment in the lateral position of the worm gear 50, the adjustment being accomplished merely by temporarily loosening the hand screws 52S and rotating the mounting shell 53 for the worm. As the mounting shell rotates, the axis of rotation of the Worm is shifted through a circular path and the parts are arranged to utilize a predominantly horizontally extending arcuate segment of this path.

The drive for the worm gear includes a spindle 57 journalled in one of the outermost posts 383 and drivingly connected into miter gears mounted within a right-angled gear box at This arrangement not only affords a range of lateral adjustment of the worm position to adapt a single worm to the handling of containers of various sizes, but it also affords a vernier timing'adjustment for insuring smooth container handling. In this connection, it is important, for avoiding damage to cans and spillage of their con.- tents, that each can be supplied to the star wheel so that the can and the point of the star wheel that engages the can are moving at approximately the same speed. Both the speed and the time of arrival of a can at the star wheel location may be accurately regulated by adjustment of the lateral position of the worm element.

The driving mechanism for the turntable and its associated container-transfer equipment are housed within the drum base 31 (see FIG. 2) and include a variable speed drive motor 61 having a speed-selector control 618 projecting through the Wall of the drum base and a vertical countershaft 62 journalled within the drum base and having an intermediate sprocket 63 connected by a link chain 64 to a drive sprocket 65 mounted on the output shaft of the motor. At its upper end the countershaft 62 carries a smallpinion gear 66 that engages a depending ring gear 67 provided on the rotating nub 36 and located within the base drum. At its lower end the counter-shaft 62 is fitted with a sprocket 68 which is drivingly connected to a link chain 6% that is engaged over separate sprockets 79 provided at the lower end of the star wheel spindles. The spindle 41$ for the 'outfeed star Wheel is also fitted with a drive sprocket 72 that engages a link chain 73 to drive a sprocket 74 on the spindle that extends upwardly into the miter box 56 of the worm drive.

This apparatus arrangement lends itself to fabrication into equipment having any desired number of operating stations. In the arrangement illustrated, six operating stations are provided on the dial plate and two-point star wheels as and 41 are employed. In an equivalent arrangement, twelve operating stations can be provided on the dial plate, in which case four-point star wheels and a Worm element 5%) having a shorter discharge pitch are employed. The speed ratio of the driving mechanism would then be changed to speed up the worm element 59 with respect to the star wheels.

Operating Stations In each operating station, the sequence of operations depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 are carried out by the action of a crimper head 76 which is associated directly with the container being processed and a pressure filler head 77 which acts in conjunction with the crimper head to supply propellant to the container. Each operating station is provided with a pressurized hydraulic liquid line 78 for operating the crimper head 76, a vacuum line 79 for connection through the crimper head to evacuate volatile materials from the top of the container and a pressurized propellant delivery line 81' for connection through the pressure filler head to deliver metered quantities of propellant such as Freon.

These various lines are brought through a central distributor and rotary seal arrangement shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 for separate connection to each operating station. Each operating station also includes two reciprocating post assemblies (see FIG. 3) drivingly controlled by the separate cam tracks provided in the barrel cam skirt 32. At each station the reciprocating post assembly 29 for operating the crimper head 76 is associated with the lower cam track 34 while reciprocating post assembly 30 for operating the pressure filler head 77 is associated with the upper cam track 33. The construction details for maintaining alignment of the reciprocating posts are shown in PEG-S. l5 and 16 while the pressure filler head details are shown in H88. 17 to 20 and the crimper head details are shown in FIGS. 21 to 23.

Central Distributor and Rotary Seal for Connecting Supply Lines to the Head Units The hub 36 which rotates with the dial plate 22P is fitted with a stationary central sleeve 368 (FIG. 13) that houses three vertically extending connection lines 81, 82 and 83. A stationary central valve body 84 is fixed across the upper end of the sleeve 368 with a thrust plate 85 sandwiched therebetween. The valve body 84 has separate vertical bores forming internal passage extensions for the lines 81, 82 and 83. A valve ring 86 encircles the valve body 84 and is rotatable thereabout conjointly with the dial plate 22F. Seal rings 86R seated in the opposite ends of the valve body provide an effective rotating seal against the inner periphery of the valve ring 36.

The valve ring has a separate supply port 86F (FIGS. 14) and connection fitting 78F leading to each of the individual hydraulic pressure supply lines 78, with the ports and fittings being spaced equaly about the periphery of the ring. A cap 87 is provided across the upper ends of the valve body and valve ring and has a central upstanding tube 88 forming a passage extension for the vacuum line 83- and functioning as a support post for a distributor head 89 that is rotatably mounted on the tube 88 and that is secured .to the outer valve ring 86 by a plurality of support and fastener assemblies 8% to rotate the distributor head in unison with the valve ring 86 and the dial plate 22?. The fastener assemblies 89F include tubular vertical columns 89C abutting the opposed faces of the valve ring 86 and the distributor head 89. A rigid drive post 90 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is fixed to the dial plate and extends upwardly to abut against one of the connection fittings 78F for rotating the valve ring with the dial plate 22?.

Propellant under high pressure is connected from a high pressure source of supply through a fitting 89F at the center of the top face of the distributor head 89 and a series of internal radial bores 90 lead to the individual propellant supply lines 80. Similarly, the vacuum line 83 extends through the tube 88 and through the center of the underface of the distributor head to a series of radial bores 91 that communicate with the separate vacuum lines 79. Thus, it will be understood that propellant under pressure is continuously available to each pressure head and vacuum sources are continuously connected to each crimper head.

The hydraulic pressure lines 78 are controlled in a predetermined timed relation by means of the rotary valve and seal assembly. Line 82 feeds hydraulic liquid under high pressure from a tank and pump assemblage (not shown) while line 81 forms a low pressure return for draining the hydraulic liquid back to its storage tank. The stationary valve 84 has an inlet port 92 (FIG. 14) about a short portion of its periphery that communicates 7 with the high pressure supply line 32 and has a large drain port 93 about substantially the remainder of its periphery that communicates with the low pressure return line 81.

As the valve ring 86 rotates with the dial plate 221, each of its ports 86? is successively moved past the high pressure port 92 of the stationary ring and during this time, for the arrangement illustrated herein, high pressure is supplied only to the crimper head associated with the particular port involved. The relative position and size of the ports controls the timing of the supply of hydraulic liquid. During substantialy the complete remainder of the cycle of rotation of each port of the valve ring, it is in communication with the drain port 93 and return line 81 of the stationary valve.

Reciprocating Posts The post assemblies 29 and are of substantially identical construction with the obvious exception that the post for engagement in the lower cam track 34 is somewhat longer. As shown in FIG. 16, each post assembly includes a sleeve 160 that projects through a mounting hole provided in the dial plate 221. The lower end portion of the sleeve is threaded to receive a lock nut 101 positioned beneath the dial plate. Immediately above this threaded portion, the sleeve is formed to receive a key 109K that seats within a slot bordering the mounting hole for the sleeve. The key and slot predetermine and maintain the circular position of the sleeve with respect to the plate. The sleeve is provided with a vertically extending slot 11163 defining a guideway for a roller type follower 1112. Internal sleeve bearings 100B are provided at the upper and lower ends of the main sleeve, and a cylindrical post 103 is reciprocable through the mounting sleeve. The post carries a cam roller 1% at its lower end that is engaged in one of the cam tracks in the barrel cam skirt 32 and intermediately of its length, the post is cut out on its opposite sides to provide mounting notches for the cam follower 102 which comprises a stud, a lock nut for one end of the stud, and a roller journalled on the other end of the stud and projecting beyond the post to engage within the guideway 1008 of the mounting sleeve. This roller type cam follower arrangement minimizes friction and wear while accurately maintaining the rotational alignment of the post and the main sleeve.

The upper end of the reciprocating post 103 is provided with a vertical keyway 103K, and a head-holding bracket 105 is mounted in telescoping relation thereon. The head-holding bracket has a split mounting yoke portion 105Y encircling the post and fitted with clamping screws 1058 to accommodate mounting of this bracket at selected elevations along the reciprocating post. The yoke portion of the bracket is provided with a circular mounting hole bordered by a keyway 165K for register with the keyway 103K in the operating post, and a key element 106 is seated in these keyways to secure the parts together in predetermined alignment.

Pressure Filler Head The pressure filler head 77, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, is associated with a mounting bracket 105 for driving the head by means of the operating post 103 of the reciprocating post assembly 30, which is controlled by the upper cam track 33.

The head includes an actuator body 110 having a depending striker stem 1108 for engagement with a sliding block 111 of the spring loaded trigger mechanism designated generally at 47.

In addition to the block 111 which is mounted to slide on the dial plate 221?, the trigger mechanism has a guide rod 112, one end of which projects in slidable relation through a transverse passage provided in one of the locating buttons 29B and the other end of which is fixed in the block 111 by a pin 113 which also serves as an 8 anchor for a tension spring 114. The spring 114 normally acts to draw the block 111 towards the locating button 298 to shift the block to the position in which it is illustrated in FIG. 20.

When no container is present in the mounting niche of the operating station, the sliding block is in the position in which it is illustrated in FIG. 20 wherein the full travel of the striker stem 1108 is readily accommodated and the vertical downward travel of the reciprocating post assembly 30 for the pressure filler head is ineitective to initiate discharge of propellant. When a container is in proper position, however, the guide rod 112 is displaced to shift the slide block 111 to the position in which it is illustrated in FIG. 17 and in this instance, downward travel of the actuator body is limited when the striker stem 1105 seats against the internal step 1118 of the slide block. Continued downward travel of the post while the actuator body remains stationary, triggers discharge of propellant from the pressure filler head. This no can-no fill feature eliminates undesired discharge of propellant into the atmosphere.

The pressure filler head has a tubular main housing or casing 116, the upper and lower ends of which are provided with screw threaded end closure plugs 117 and 118, respectively, each of which has an axial passage. A cylinder sleeve 119 is disposed within the main housing in annularly spaced relation thereto and is provided with a set of wall openings 119A adjacent its upper end for establishing communication from the annular space 129, provided between the housing and cylinder sleeve, and the upper end of the cylinder chamber. A stationary seal plate 121 is fitted between the upper end of the closure plug 118 and the lower end of the cylinder 119 and has a central port 1211 for establishing communication from the lower end of the cylinder 119 to the annular space 120 through wall openings 118A provided at the upper end of the closure plug 118. The housing 116 is provided with a nipple 116N for convenient attachment with the corresponding propellant supply line 80 which is fed from the distributor head 89 to supply propellant under pressure to the filler head.

A piston 122 of any suitable construction is mounted for liquid tight sliding movement with the cylinder 119 and an externally threaded coupling element 124 is fixed in and projects from the upper end of the piston to receive a lock nut 123N for clamping a ring cap 123 to the piston. The coupling element 124 anchors a piston rod 125 to the closure plug 117 with a seal ring packing 126 being provided to prevent escape of propellant.

The upper end plug 117 includes an internally threaded integral end collar 117C for mounting an upstanding external stainless steel guide tube 127 which is slotted lengthwise as indicated at 1278. The piston rod 125 is slidable lengthwise through the tube 127 and is fixed to a carrier 128 that has a stop pin 128? projecting transversely through the slots 1275 for locating engagement with a stop collar 129 on the upper end of the guide tube. Piston travel is controlled by adjusting the position of the stop collar 129 along the guide tube 127.

The space in the cylinder sleeve beneath the lower face of the piston 122 constitutes a metering chamber 139 the capacity of which is regulated by adjustment of the stop collar 129. The lower end of the metering chamber 130 is bounded by the generally disc-shaped stationary seal plate 121, the underneath face of which is provided with an annular valve seat 1218 in surrounding relation to its central port 121P which constitutes a discharge opening for the metering chamber.

A valve cage 131 is disposed between the seal plate 121 and the lower end closure plug 118 and has a central passage 131P opening through its upper end in registering relation to the discharge passage 1211 and a seal ring 131R is seated in the upper end of the valve cage to establish sealing engagement with the valve seat 1218 for blocking off communication between the propellant 9 Supply and the metering chamber during propellant discharge.

A movable valve stem 132 having an integral seal disc 1321) at its upper end is slidable through the cage and is held in place therein by a valve seat ring 133 which is fixed in abutting engagement against an internal shoulder on the cage by a collar 134 which is threaded in the lower end of the cage. The movable valve stem 132 has a substantially full length lengthwise bore 132L opening axially through its lower end and opening radially at-the underface of the seal disc 1321). A coil spring 135 located within the cage normally urges the sealing disc 132D downwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 17 wherein it engages an O ring 136 mounted in the seat ring 133 to block premature discharge of propellant from the metering chamber.

The actuator body 111 is threaded onto the lower end of the movable valve stem 132 and has an internal passage forming a continuation of the discharge passage that extends through the stem. The actuator body is formed with an upwardly facing marginal external shoulder to receive a spring seat ring 137 for a helical coil spring 138, the upper end of which seats again-st a downwardly facing external shoulder near the lower end of the closure plug 118.

In FIG. 17 the parts are illustrated in the normal position wherein the metering chamber 131 is fully charged with propellant. However, the reciprocating post assembly 30 for the pressure head unit is at an intermediate point of its vertical stroke as illustrated by the fact that the striker stern 11198 has moved down to meet the internal step 1118 in the sliding block 111. At the upper end of the stroke of the reciprocating post the striker stem 11118 is carried above the sliding block. In the FIG. 17 position, it will be clear that discharge from the metering chamber 130 is blocked by the O ring 136 between the sealing disc 132D and the seat ring 133. In the FIG. 19 position, on the other hand, the discharge passage is open at this point.

The transmission line 141) for supplying propellant discharge from the pressure head to the crimper head has a check valve 141 (see FIG. 21) at its delivery end. The check valve is physically mounted in the crimper head and is normally held closed by a spring 142 and is adapted to open upon the build up of a predetermined pressure valve in the transmission line. The pressure value required for triggering the check valve must be sulhcient to insure that the volatile propellant will be maintained in liquid phase in the transmission line. This check valve relationship is important for maintaining accurate metering which, of course, is the principal func tion of the pressure filler head.

The cycle of operation of the filler head may now be described in relation to FIGS. 17 and 19. In FIG. 17 the movable valve stem 132 is in its lowermost position and the discharge passage therethrough is sealed by the ring 136 which is compressed between the sealing disc 132D and the seat ring 133. Moreover, the valve cage 131 is in its lowermost position so that both ends of the cylinder sleeve 119 are in open communication with the source of pressurized propellant. Thus, the liquid pressure acts on opposite faces of the piston 122 and due to the differential areas resulting from the provision of an externally projecting piston rod 125, the force of the underneath face of the piston predominates and the piston moves to its uppermost limit of travel as determined by engagement of the stop pin 128? with the stop collar 129. The piston is moved to this position as a re sult of the metering chamber 130 being progressively filled with the pressurized propellant supplied from the source.

With a container in proper position in its mounting niche, the sliding block 111 is in the position in which it is shown in FIG. 17 and upon the reciprocating post assembly 30 moving the pressure filler head downwardly the striker stein abuts the internal step 1118 of the block and upon continued downward movement of the pressure head unit the movable valve stem 132 undergoes relative upward movement with respect to the outer casing 116. Due to the stiffness of the coil spring 135 housed in the cage 131, the valve cage moves towards the stationary seal plate 121 to establish a seal around the valve seat 1218 that encircles its discharge port 121? at the bottom of the metering chamber.

Thereafter, upon continued movement, the cage spring 135 yields and allows the sealing disc 132D to clear the O ring 136 and complete a discharge passage which then extends from the metering chamber through the port 121?, the center of the valve cage 131 and through the movable valve stem 132 and adaptor body 110 to the transmission line 140. It will also be noted that the engagement of the O ring 131R in the upper face of the cage against the valve seat 1218 isolates the bottom end of the metering chamber and its discharge passage from the source of pressurized propellant.

The opening of the discharge passage immediately develops sufficient pressure in the transmission line to open the check valve 141 at the delivery end of the transmission line and allow the liquid in the metering chamber to flow from beneath the piston 122 and through the transmission line 140 and this e'nects a slight reduction in pressure in the metering chamber 130 such that the pressure which the source of propellant maintains on the top face of the piston now predominates and forces the piston through its complete discharge stroke through the metering chamber until the piston face abuts against the upper face of the stationary seal plate 121. This position of the parts is shown in FIG. 19. At this point the check valve will close as the pressure in thetransmission line drops off to a predetermined critical value.

The return or charging stroke is initiated by the upward movement of the operating post which allows the return spring 138 to drive the valve stem 132 downwardly with respect to the cage to immediately seat the sealing disc 132]) against the O ring 136 for closing off the discharge passage at the entrance to the transmission line and the check valve. This sequence prevents a false. opening of the check valve such as could result from a transient pressure build up in the transmission line if the propellant supply were to momentarily be connected in open communication with the discharge passage.

The cage spring supports the cage in sealed relation against the valve seat 1218 on the stationary seal plate until near the end of the up-stroke of the reciprocating post assembly. Upon opening of this seal propel lant under pressure is again supplied through the port 121P to the underface of the piston to elevate it to the top of the metering cylinder and thus another charge is stored in the metering chamber.

Upon discharge of the container from the mounting niche the spring 114 retracts the slide block 111 to pre vent propellant discharge in the event no container is supplied for the next down stroke of the reciprocating post assembly. In this situation, the full length vertical passage through the block accommodates the striker stem for the full travel of the posts and thus the discharge passage remains closed.

Crimper Head tension 152. The main cylinder sleeve is disposed in .the mounting bracket 105 with a suitable bushing 153 provided between the sleeve and bracket to accommodate sliding movement of the cylinder sleeve through the bracket for developing a preloading force through a set of four springs 154 which telescope over a set of upstanding guide posts 155 that are fixed in the mounting bracket. The preload springs 154 are housed in retainer shells'156 that abut against the upper end of the guide posts and seat against a common preload ring 157 that abuts against the upper end of the main cylinder sleeve. A lock ring 158 holds the cylinder from falling out of the mounting bracket.

A free sliding piston 159 is disposed within the main cylinder sleeve 150 for actuation by hydraulic liquid pressure from the supply line 78 that is connected through a central lengthwise bore 151B in the cylinder end. The piston has an integral depending skirt 1595 about its outer margin forming a guide pocket for a plunger assembly which is slidable axially through the head in response to the application of hydraulic pressure thereto.

The plunger assembly includes a main plunger element 160, a headed thrust sleeve 161 threaded on the exterior of the plunger element to encircle the upper end thereof, a carrier ring 162 seated in sealing relation within an annular pocket at the upper end of the sleeve extension 152, a plunger return spring 163 encircling the plunger and reacting between the thrust sleeve 161 and the carrier ring 162. The segmented collet 23 is confined within the sleeve extension and is disposed in encircling relation to the lower end of the plunger element 160. The jaws 23] of the collet are engageable about the 1.1). of

the closure cap for the container and upon downward movement of the plunger are spread outwardly to crimp the closure cap into sealed relation about the mouth of the container.

A container locating bell 164 is mounted for sliding movement about the exterior of the main cylinder sleeve 150 and the sleeve extension 152 and is fitted with a set of stop screws 164$ adjacent its upper end that are engageable with an annular exterior abutment shoulder 152A at the upper end of the sleeve extension 152 for holding the bell in position on the crimper head. A set of coil springs 165 are seated in spring pockets opening through the upper end of the bell and react against the mounting bracket to normally urge the bell downwardly relative to the main cylinder sleeve. Thus when the head unit is freely suspended, the lower end of the bell hangs substantially beneath the collet with the bell being yieldably maintained in this position by engagement of the stop screws 1645 against the abutment shoulder 152A of the sleeve extension. In FIGURE 21 the head unit has been lowered on the container and is in position for i.

applying vacuum to the container during the vacuum cycle indicated in FIGURE 9. In the freely suspended position the bell 164 would drop down from the position shown in FIGURE 21 until stop screws 164$ rest on the shoulder 152A, while the support bracket 105', the main sleeve 15%] and the sleeve extension 152 and associated mechanisms remain at the same elevation.

The bell 164 has an annual internal pocket intermediately of its length fitted with an axial assemblage of annular seal ring elements that seat against a central shell or annulus 166 which has a radial bore 166B fixed in registry with a radial bore in the bell to form a passage for the vacuum line (see FIG. 22). A cap ring 167 is threaded into the bell to compress the seal rings 168 of the assemblage. This vacuum passage through the 'bell 164 and shell 166 is adapted to open into a series of radial ports or bores 1523 provided in the extension sleeve to establish communication with the lower end of the head through annular clearance spaces that exist between the collet 23 and the extension sleeve 152.

The bell has another internal bore 164P (FIGS. 21 and 23) adjacent its lower end forming an entrance passage for the propellant transmission line 140. The bore 164-1 opens into the head in a generally tangential direction to deliver propellant with tangential swirling motion.

At its lower end, the bell is fitted with an internally contoured engaging adaptor ring 169 which is threaded within the bell to mount an internal seal ring gasket 170 that establishes sealing engagement about the upper end of the container for confining the applied suction and/ or the delivered propellant to the container. A stop sleeve 171 is threaded within the lower end of the extension sleeve element 152 and a seal ring 172 is mounted between the lower ends of the extension sleeve element 152 and the stop sleeve 171. The stop sleeve 171 is adapted to seat against the top of the closure cap rim and the seal ring 172 is adapted to engage about the outer periphery of the closure cap rim to block propellant against entry into the collet and piston region of the crimper head.

Operating Sequence for Filling and Sealing The operation of the crimper head may be understood in conjunction with the FIG. 9 layout of the cam track At the beginning of a cycle of movement through the rotary link, the operating piston 159 of the crimper head is at its upper limit of travel and the bell 164 is suspended with its stop screws 1648 in engagement with the abutment shoulder 152A on the exterior of the extension sleeve element. As the container moves into its mounting niche beneath the bell 164 of the crimper, the operating post 183 simultaneously begins to move downwardly to immediately seat the adaptor ring 169 upon the container. This makes full use of the time available in each cycle. With the bell suspended in its initial lowermost position, the vacuum passages 164B and 166B through the hell are sealed at a point on the extension sleeve element 152 that is located slightly below the port 15213 provided in the sleeve extension by the seals 168.

An important feature of this arrangement resides in the fact that the vacuum passage remains closed it no container is presented for engagement by the bell. In the absence of a container, the bell and the entire crimper head mechanism move downwardly in unison with the bell in its freely suspended lowermost position where the port 166B is located below the ports 152B so that the vacuum port remains closed. Since the turntable processes a number of containers simultaneously it is important that the absence of a container will not result in dissipating the suction efiect of the vacuum source as this would impair the processing of the other containers.

As the crimper head is brought down upon a properly positioned container, the hold down springs in the bell are compressed to bias the bell against the container for loading the seal ring sufiiciently to create a leakproof seal about the upper end of the container. This phase of the operation is controlled by the cam track section labelled infeed in FIG. 9.

Continued downward movement of the operating post moves the main cylinder sleeve 150 downwardly through the bell until the vacuum port 152B in the sleeve extension is in registry with the vacuum passage 164B in the bell as shown in FIG. 21. This subjects the region at the top of the container to the vacuum for first elevating the cap and for thereafter vacuum purging air or other gaseous material in the container. This operation is shown in FIG. 8A and this phase of the operation is controlled by the cam track section labelled vacuum in FIG. 9. At this stage, the cap is not stripped onto the collet 23 to an extent sufiicient to create a seal against the rubber seal ring 172 and this is important for maintaining the vacuum passage which extends upwardly between the collet 23 and the stop sleeve 171.

After dwelling at this vacuum level for a time sufficient to complete vacuum purging of the container, the operating post again moves downwardly to forceably strip the collet 23 into the cap preparatory to mechanically lifting the cap above the container. This phase is controlled by the section of the cam track labelled cap arenas/4 13 pick up in FIG. 9 and when the post is at its lower limit of travel, the cap is fully stripped onto the collet (FIG. 8B and the DB. of the cap rim has sealing engagement with the seal ring 1'72 which moves in unison with the coll t at this stage of the cycle to the position shown in FIG. 24.

The operating post is then raised a short distance to elevate the cap above the container (FIGS. 8C and 25) and provide desired clearance beneath the cap for filling the propellant through its tangentially directed inlet port 164? and into the container. The tangent inlet port 1MP at the terminus of the propellant entry passage develops a tangential swirl of propellant for avoiding turbulence in the entering stream of propellant and for avoiding impact charging of the propellant such as might lead to splashing of the product and contamination or" the inside of the head and also of the exterior of the top of the container. During this pressure fill phase of the cycle, the seal between the seal ring element 172 and the rim of the closure cap blocks propellant against escape into the vacuum passages and the seal ring element has a pressure responsive self-sealing circumferential lip configuration 1'72L that increases in sealing eiiect in direct proportion to the pressure exerted upon it by the propellant.

The timing chart of FIG. 9 illustrates that the pressure filler head operates to supply propellant under pressure through the transmission line and its check valve 141 and into the crimper head during the interval when the crirnper head completes the delivery passage by unblocking the tangential inlet port 1MP in the lower end of the bell. The chart also indicates that after the pressure filling step is completed, the operating post for the crimper is again lowered to drive the collet down and seat the cap in the mouth of the container (FIGS. 8D

and 26).

Simultaneously, the stop sleeve 171 seats on the rim of the cap for applying a preload force from the preload springs 154 at the upper end of the head mounting bracket 195'. The preload force is transmitted from the preload springs 154 through the spring seat thrust ring 157, through the main cylinder sleeve 15% and then through the extension sleeve element 152 and the stop sleeve 171. The preload force is developed by virtue of the over-travel motion of the mounting bracket 105' with respect to the main cylinder sleeve 15%. This over-travel sets up the preloading compression of the springs.

The preload force upon the closure cap develops an initial flow of the usual flowed-in-gasket utilized at the underface of the closure cap rim for establishing a seal with the container. Practical experience has shown that these flowed-in-gaskets must be preloaded prior to the actual crimping of the cap if they are to affect a good seal. Preloading is less important, where the product within the container is capable of causing swelling of the liowed-in-gasket but it is more important where only a material such as Freon is present since Freon is incapable of inducing this swelling action which is so important for insuring the development of a good seal.

When the cap is properly seated in the container under a preload force applied by the springs 154, the operating post dwells for a period labelled crimping in FIG. 9 during which hydraulic pressure is applied through the cylinder end 11 to the backface of the piston 159 to drive the piston downwardly and correspondingly to force the plunger res through the lower end of the collet 23 for spreading the collet jaws into crimping engagement with the cap rim (FIG. 26). This travel of the piston 159 and the plunger 166 is resisted by the plunger return spring 163 which becomes compressed to store up sufiicient energy for returning the plunger. The hydraulic pressure is then removed in accordance with the timing sequence of the rotary seal arrangement and the return spring 1*53 expands to restore the plunger 160 to its iniid tial position at the upper end of the main cylinder sleeve 150.

As soon as the operating post starts upward during the outfeed phase of the operating cycle, the bell springs urge the bell 164 downwardly relative to the other parts of the crimper head to exert a force tending to strip the container free of the collet 23. After a short rise, sufiicient to establish the vacuum passages 1543 and 16613 in registry with the vacuum port 152B (FIG. 21), the operating post dwells briefly as indicated at 34]) on cam track 34 on the timing chart of FIG. 9. During this dwell period, the seal ring 1'70 within the locating adaptor ring 169 maintains its seal against the container Wall to enable the vacuum line to evacuate any gasor other volatile fluids remaining in the region surrounding the top of the container or in the tangential propellant entry passage.

Finally, the operating rod returns to its initial position at the full upper limit of travel to lift the bell and adapter free of the container for permitting discharge of the container from the dial plate 221.

Crim per H earl A djustm cuts The crimper head 76 has a number of important features of adjustability which facilitate its adaptation to containers and closure caps of slightly different crimp depths and crimp diameters. Crimp depth may be defined as the distance between the bottom end of the stop sleeve 171 and the jaws 2310f the collet and this may be adjusted by rotating the stop sleeve 171 relative to the extension sleeve element 152. With the present construction, this may be accomplished without disassembly. Crimp diameter maybe defined as the radial spacing of the collet jaws and is adjustable by regulating the length of the plunger stroke. The stroke of the plunger is limited by cooperating abutment surfaces 1618 and 1625, respectively, on oppositely facing ends of the thrust sleeve 161 and the carrier ring 162. The initial distance between these surfaces may be regulated by rotating the plunger 161 with respect to the thrust sleeve 161 and for this purpose the plunger has a socket ldtlS (FIG. 21) opening through its lower end for convenient wrench engagement and the thrust sleeve 161 is fixed against rotation within the depending piston skirt. The cap pick-up diameter of the collet 23 may also be adjusted to achieve a proper fit for stripping the collet into the cap to initially lift the cap. This cap pick-up diameter is determined by the original position of the plunger and is adjusted by rotating the cylinder end ldl with respect to the main cylinder sleeve 1543.

Cap Pickup Modification In an alternative arrangement, the cap pickup function of the collet 23 may be controlled by supplying hydraulic pressure to the upper face of the piston 159 at the appropriate point in the movement of the container through the rotary link. The application of hydraulic pressure serves to move the plunger element 1649 downwardly through the collet 23 to spread its jaws into secure mechanical engagement with the rim of the container cap. This action is to be distinguished from that reviously described wherein the initial diameter of the collet jaws is such that these jaws are capable of creating a force fit with the rim of the cap.

To provide the equipment with this function, the rotary seal elements of FIG. 14 are arranged to provide an additional high pressure port indicated in phantom lines at 92', the boundary wall portions of which are indicated by dotted lines at 92W. The high'pressure hydraulic supply line 82 would include a passage extension 32' that communicates with the port 92,. Correspondingly, the drain passage 81 would have a drain passage extension 81' communicating with the now isolated region of the large drain port. With this arrangement, it will be un- 15 derstood that high pressure is applied through port 92 at the instant that the cap pickup function is to occur.

'Thus, the position of the port 92' is correlated with the 'cam track 34 so that the cap pickup portion of the track controls the crimpers reciprocating post during the in terval when the port 92 is in communication with the correspondin g hydraulic liquid supply line 7 8.

In another modification or alternative operation of the 'crimper head, the cap is raised above the mouth of the container at the completion of the vacuum phase without relying upon the mechanical gripping of the cap by the collet 23 as described in connection with the cap pick-up phase indicated in FIG. 9. In this form of the apparatus the cam track 34, as shown in FIG. 9, is modified by elimination of the cap pick-up phase or the dip in the track 34 which is provided to force the collet 23 down into the inside of the cap. With the modified cam track as shown at 34A in FIG. 9A, the head supporting post 29 is dropped at the end of the vacuum phase to position the head for the pressure fill phase and thereafter held at the same elevation while the cap is lifted and the container is filled and advanced to the crimping station. At the end of the vacuum phase the head is lowered further into engagement with the container and occupies the position shown in FIG. 24 where the seal ring 172 rests on the top of the cap rim with the cap sitting on top of the container in closure forming position and the collet 23 held down against the cap by the preload springs 154. With the apparatus in this position the valve 141 is opened to start the flow of propellant into the bell 164 through the passageway 164E. There is sufiicient clearance between the lower end of extension sleeve element 152 below the seal 168, and the inside of the bell 164 to allow the propellant to enter below the rim of the cap and force the cap upwardly carrying the inner bell assembly, including the collet 23, with it against the force of the springs 154 (FIG. 25) which clears the inner end of the passageway 1641 for rapid entry of the propellant. The propellant is delivered under pressure which may be, for example, in the neighborhood of 1,000 lbs. per square inch and springs 154 are provided of a strength which will permit this operation. When the desired amount of propellant has been fed into the container the valve 141 is closed which causes a reduction in the pressure in the bell and the container to something in the neighborhood of 70 pounds per square inch with the result that the springs 154 force the inner bell assembly down and again positions the cap in closure forming relation on the container where it is held until the head reaches the crimping station and the post 29 is lowered by the cam to bring the head down into crimping position (FIG. 26) where it is held during the crimping operation. With the apparatus operated in this manner, the cap becomes a check valve which closes immediately upon the completion of the filling phase. The time allowed for lifting the cap and delivering the charge of propellant into the container is fixed by the length of cam track 34A for the pressure fill phase (FIGS. 9 and 9A). The actual time required for the cap lifting and filling may be substantially less. When the fill is completed and the pressure is reduced in the bell and container the cap is immediately dropped by the force of the springs 154 to close the container, thereby preventing the escape of the contents of the container regardless of the length of the fill phase.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate the invention and the manner in which it may be performed, and the invention is not to be limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have this disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A filling and sealing machine comprising a mounting niche for receiving and supporting a container, said container having a top opening equipped with a cap loosely positioned therein, a head positioned above said niche, driving means for jointly moving said head and niche along a prescribed path, first means on said head for producing a seal around the top opening of the container, second means connected through said head for drawing a vacuum in said container, third means on said head for engaging the cap and supporting the same in an elevated position above the top opening of the container, fourth means connected through said head for feeding a predetermined quantity of propellant into the container, said third means and said cap being raised above said container top opening by pressure of said propellant, fifth means in said head for lowering said third means to seat the cap in said top opening and for crimping the cap onto the container, and means responsive to joint movement of said container and mounting niche along said path for actuating said first, second, third, fourth and fifth means in predetermined sequence.

2. A filling and sealing machine comprising a mounting niche for receiving and supporting a container, said container having a top opening equipped with a cap loosely positioned therein, a head positioned above said niche, driving means for jointly moving said head and niche laterally along a circular path, first means on said head for producing a seal around the top opening of the container, second means connected through said head for drawing a vacuum in said container, third means on said head for lifting the cap above the container, fourth means connected through said head for feeding a predetermined quantity of propellant into the container while the cap is lifted, fifth means in said head for lowering the cap into said top opening, for preloading the cap against the container and for crimping the cap onto the container, and means responsive to joint movement of said container and mounting niche along said path for actuating said first, second, third, fourth and fifth means in predetermined sequence, said responsive means including means for moving said head downwardly toward said mounting niche to establish operative engagement between the head and a container located on said niche.

3. A filling and sealing machine comprising a rotary table having a mounting niche for receiving and supporting a container, said container having a top opening equipped with a cap loosely positioned therein, a head supported from said table and positioned above said niche, driving means rotating said table for jointly moving said head and mounting niche along a circular path, first means on said head for producing a seal around the top opening of the container, second means connected through said head for drawing a vacuum in said container, third means on said head for lifting the cap above the container, fourth means connected through said head for feeding a predetermined quantity of propellant into the container while the cap is lifted, fifth means in said head for seating the cap in said top opening, for preloading the cap against the container and for crimping the cap onto the container, and means responsive to rotational movement of said table when said container is positioned in said mounting niche, for actuating said first, second, third, fourth and fifth means in predetermined sequence, said responsive means including means for moving said head downwardly toward said mounting niche to establish engagement between the head and a container located on said niche.

4. A filling and sealing machine comprising a rotary table having an upstanding base drum, a barrel cam skirt encircling the upper end of the drum and provided with two endless cam tracks, a dial plate rotatable on the drum, means mounting pairs of vertically reciprocable operating posts at points spaced circularly about the plate to provide a corresponding number of filling and sealing stations, a cam follower for one post of each station and engaged in one cam track, a cam follower for the other P t of each sta ion and engaged in the other cam track,

with said cam tracks controlling and timing vertical shifting motion of said posts, each station having a container mounting niche, a crimping head on one post thereof and positioned above said niche and a pressure filler head on the other post thereof and connected to the crimper head by a fluid transmission line, first means on said crimper head for producing a seal around the top opening of a container in said niche, second means connectable through said crimper head for drawing a vacuum in said container, third means on said crimper head for lifting the cap above the container, fourth means in said pressure filler head for feeding a metered quantity of propellant through said crimper head and into the container while the cap is lifted, fifth means in said crimper head for reseating the cap in said top opening and for crimping the cap onto the container, and means responsive to rotational movement of said table when said container is positioned in said mounting niche for actuating said first, second, third, fourth and fifth means in predetermined sequence.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said rotary table has a central distributor assembly for individually connecting separate fluid supply lines to feed said crimper and pressure filler heads of each station, said distributor assembly comprising a stationary valve body disposed on the axis of rotation of the rotary table, said body having separate fluid supply and fluid return bores leading to radially opening peripheral ports therein, a valve ring encircling said body and having ports for register with the ports of said valve body, means for sealing against escape of fluid from between said valve body and valve ring, means connecting said ring ports individually to crimper heads on said table and means for rotating said valve ring jointly with said table to move said ring ports across said body ports in timed relationship to cause said fifth means in said crimper head to crimp the cap into sealed relation on the container.

6. A crirnper head unit comprising a sleeve structure providing a main cylinder and having an extension sleeve fixed at one end thereof, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a hollow collet mounted in said extension sleeve, a plunger seated against said piston and slidable through said sleeve to move relative to said collet for actuating said collet, a return spring in said cylinder to yieldably urge said plunger towards said piston, a container engaging bell encircling said extension sleeve for limited sliding movement lengthwise thereof, said bell and said extension sleeve having cooperating bores arranged for registry at one relative lengthwise position therebetween to establish communication to an annular clearance region that encircles said collet and opens through the end of said head, said bell having another bore opening to the interior thereof for supplying pressurized propellant thereinto, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the other end of said cylinder to drive said piston through said cylinder and correspondingly actuate said plunger and collet.

7. A crimper head unit according to claim 6 wherein abutments interengage to retain said bell suspended on said extension sleeve and springs yieldably resist movement of said bell upwardly along said extension sleeve.

8. A crimper head unit comprising a sleeve structure providing a main cylinder and having an extension sleeve fixed at one end thereof, an end casting in the other end of said sleeve structure, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a hollow collet mounted in said extension sleeve, a plunger seated against said piston and slidable through said sleeve to move relative to said collet for actuating said collet, a return spring in said cylinder and reacting between said extension sleeve and said plunger to yieldably urge said plunger towards said piston, a container engaging bell encircling said extension sleeve for limited sliding movement lengthwise thereof, said bell and said extension sleeve having cooperating bores arranged for registry at one relative lengthwise position therebetween to establish communication to an annular clearance region that encircles said collet internally of said extension sleeve and opens through the end of said head, said bell having another bore opening to the interior thereof for supplying pressurized propellant thereinto, and said end casting having a bore for supplying fluid under pressure to drive said piston through said cylinder and correspondingly actuate said plunger and collet.

9. A crimper head unit comprising a main cylinder sleeve, an end casting in one end of said sleeve, a sleeve extension on the other end of said sleeve, a piston slidable in said cylinder sleeve, a hollow collet mounted in said sleeve extension, 21 plunger seated against said piston and slidable through said sleeves to move relative to said collet for actuating said collet, a thrust sleeve in said cylinder sleeve and fixedly adjustable on said plunger to regulate the travel stroke of the plunger, a return spring in said cylinder sleeve and reacting between said extension sleeve and said thrust sleeve to yieldably urge said plunger towards said piston, a container engaging bell encircling said extension sleeve for limited sliding movement lengthwise thereof, said bell and said extension sleeve having cooperating bores arranged for registry at one relative lengthwise position therebetween to establish communication to an annular clearance region that encircles said collet internally of said extension sleeve and opens through the end of said head, said bell having another bore opening to the interior thereof for supplying pressurized propellant thereinto, and said end casting having a .bore for supplying fluid under pressure to drive said piston through said cylinder sleeve and correspondingly actuate said plunger and collet.

10. A crimper head unit comprising a main cylinder sleeve, an end casting in one end of said sleeve, a sleeve extension threadedly adjustable on the other end of said sleeve, a piston slidable in said sleeve, a hollow collet mounted in said sleeve extension, a plunger seated against said piston and slidable through said sleeve to move relative to said collet for actuating said collet, with the threadedly adjustable engagement between said sleeves determining the initial position of said piston and hence of said plunger relative to said collet, a thrust sleeve in said cylinder sleeve and stationary on said plunger, a return spring in said cylinder sleeve and reacting between said extension sleeve and said thrust sleeve to yieldably urge said plunger towards said piston, a container engaging hell encircling said extension sleeve for limited sliding movement lengthwise thereof, said bell and said extension sleeve having cooperating bores arranged for registry at one relative lengthwise position therebetween to establish communication to an annular clearance region that encircles said collet internally of said extension sleeve and opens through the end of said head, said bell having another bore opening to the interior thereof for supplying pressurized propellant thereinto, and said end casting having a bore for supplying fluid under pressure to drive said piston through said cylinder sleeve and correspondingly actuate said plunger and collet.

11. A device for filling and sealing a container having a top openin with a cap loosely positioned therein, said device comprising a bell having means for seating on the container to form a hermetic seal encircling said opening, a stop sleeve movably positioned within said bell, a collet extending into said bell, means for producing a vacuum in said container through said bell, means for momentarily lowering said collet to strip the collet onto said cap and mechanically lift said cap above said opening, means for pressure filling propellant through said bell into said container while said cap is held above said opening, means for lowering said collet to reseat said cap in said opening, means for lowering said stop sleeve to preload said cap against said container, and means movable into said bell for operating said collet to crimp said cap to said container while said cap is held preloaded against said container in sealing relation about said opening.

12. A device for filling and sealing a container having a top opening with a cap loosely positioned therein, said device comprising a bell like-member having means for seating on the container to form a hermetic seal encircling said opening, a stop sleeve movably positioned within said bell member, a collet extending into said bell member, means for producing a vacuum in said bell member and hence in said container, means for lowering said collet against the cap, means for pressure filling propellant through said hell member into said container, said cap and said collet being raised above said opening by pressure of said propellant, means for lowering said collet to seat said cap in said opening, means for lowering said stop sleeve to preload said cap against said container, and means movable through said collet for operating said collet to crimp said cap to said container while said cap is held preloaded against said container in sealing relation about said opening by said stop sleeve.

13. A filling and sealing machine comprising a filling and sealing station having a container mounting niche, means for conveying a container to and positioning the container in the niche at said station, said container having a top opening loosely receiving a cap therein, said station having a crimping head above said niche and a vertically movable pressure filler head thereadjacent and connected thereto by a fluid transmission line and means for actuating said heads in predetermined relation and including a contact block slidably mounted beneath said pressure filler head for engagement thereby to initiate discharge through said transmission line, yieldable means normally urging said block to a position free from contact by said pressure filler head to normally disable the same and responsive to arrival of a container at said niche for shifting said ,block to its operative contact position.

14. A central distributor assembly for separate fluid supply lines that feed equipment mounted on a rotating table, said assembly comprising a stationary central sleeve upstanding from said table and centered about the axis of rotation of said table and having fluid passages extending vertically therethrough, a stationary valve body disposed at the upper end of said sleeve and coaxially therewith and having a vertical through passage communicating with one of said fluid passages and separate fluid supply and fluid return bores communicating with others of said fluid passages and leading to radially opening peripheral ports in said body, a valve ring encircling said valve body and having ports for register with the ports of said valve body, seal rings between opposite extremities of said body and ring, means connecting said ring ports to equipment on said table, means mounting a distributor head atop said body, said head having internal bores in communication with the through passage of said sleeve, means connecting said last named bores to equipment on said table, and means for rotating said valve ring and distributor head jointly with said table.

15. A central distributor assembly for connecting separate fluid supply lines to equipment mounted on a rotating turntable, said assembly comprising a stationary central sleeve upstanding from said turntable and centered about the axis of rotation of said turntable and having fluid passages extending vertically therethrough, a stationary valve body disposed at the upper end of said sleeve and coaxially therewith and having separate fluid supply and fluid return bores communicating with separate ones of said fluid passages and leading to radially opening peripheral ports in said body, a valve ring encircling said valve body and having ports for register with the ports of said valve body, seal ring means between opposite extremities of said valve body and valve ring, means connecting said ring ports to equipment on said turntable, means mounting a distributor head atop said body, said head having internal bores, means for connecting a fluid supply line to equipment on said turntable through means of the internal bores in said head, and means for rotating said valve ring and distributor head jointly with said turntable.

16. A reciprocating post construction comprising a mounting plate having a mounting hole therein, an elongate support sleeve disposed in a vertical position in said hole, means for fixing said sleeve to said plate in predetermined rotational alignment relative to said hole, said sleeve having a vertically extending guideway and having vertically spaced internal sleeve bearings at opposite ends of said guideway, a post rcciprocably mounted in said sleeve bearings and having a cam follower at one end for engagement in a cam track to drive said post, and a roller mounted intermediate the ends of said post for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the vertical axis of said post, said roller being confined in said guideway for movement in a vertical path to maintain rotational alignment of said post in said sleeve.

17. The post construction in claim 16 wherein said post has a vertically extending keyway at the end opposite the cam follower, a mounting bracket mounted in encircling relation about said keyway end and said bracket having an internal keyway for register with the last named keyway and a key engaged in the keyways to fix the rotational alignment of said bracket on said post.

18. A machine for filling and sealing aerosol containers comprising a rotary table having a plurality of peripherally spaced filling and sealing stations, means at each station for mounting a container, a crimping head disposed above each said container mounting means and a pressure filler head adjacent each crimping head and connected thereto by a fluid transmission line, means for conveying containers to each station, each container having a top opening loosely receiving a cap therein, first means on said crimper head for producing a seal around the top opening of a container mounted at a station beneath said crimper head, second means connectable through said crimper head for drawing a vacuum in said container, third means in said pressure filler head for feeding a metered quantity of propellant through said transmission line to said crimper head, said crimper head having means for directing the propellant beneath the cap so that the cap is lifted by the pressure of the propellant to permit entry of the propellant into the container, fourth means in said crimper head for resenting the cap in said top opening and for crimping the cap onto the container, and means responsive to rotational movement of said table when said container is positioned at said station for actuating said first, second, third and fourth means in predetermined sequence.

19. A machine for filling and sealing aerosol containers comprising a rotary table having a plurality of peripherally spaced filling and sealing stations, means at each station for supporting a container, a crimping head disposed above said container supporting means and a pressure filler ead adjacent each crimping head and connected thereto by a fluid transmission line, means for delivering containers to each station in upstanding position, each container having atop opening and a cap loosely seated in said opening, means on said crimper head for producing a seal around the top opening of a container supported at a station beneath said crimper head, means connectable through said crimper head for drawing a vacuum in said container, means in said pressure filler head for feeding a metered quantity of propellant under pressure through said transmission line to said crimper head, said crimper head being constructed so that the pressure of the propellant lifts the cap free of the container opening for entry of the propellant into the container, means in said crimper head for resenting the cap in said top opening and for crimping the cap onto the container, and means responsive to rotational movement of said table when said container is positioned at said station for actuating said seal producing means, said vacuum drawing means, said propellant feeding means and said cap reseating and crimping means in predetermined sequence.

20. A machine for filling and sealing aerosol containers comprising a rotary table having a plurality of peripherally spaced filling and sealing stations, means at each station for supporting a container, a crimping head disposed above said container supporting means and a pressure filler head adjacent each crimping head and connected thereto by a fluid transmission line, means for delivering containers in upright position to each station, each container having a top opening and a cap loosely seated thereon, said crimper head having means for producing a seal around the top opening of a container supported at a station beneath said crimper head when said crimper head is engaged with said container, means for engaging the crimping head with the container, means connectable through said crimper head for drawing a vacuum in said container, means in said pressure filler head for feeding a metered quantity of propellant under pressure through said transmission line to said crimper head, said crimper head having means for directing the propellant beneath the cap so that the cap is lifted by the pressure of the propellant and the propellant is delivered into the container, said crimper head having a spring pressed crimping assembly including a collet for initially engaging the cap and urging it downwardly onto the container to close said top opening and for finally crimping the cap onto the container after the propellant is delivered into the container, means for operating the collet to crimp the cap on the container, and means responsive to rotational movement of said table when said container is positioned at said station for actuating said crimping head and container engaging means, said vacuum drawing means, said propellant feeding means and said collet operating means in predetermined sequence.

21. A crimper head unit comprising a sleeve structure providing a main cylinder and having an extension sleeve at one end thereof, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a hollow collet mounted in said extension sleeve, a plunger seated against said piston and slidable through said sleeve to move relative to said collet for actuating said collet, a return spring in said cylinder to yieldably urge said plunger towards said piston, a container engaging bell encircling said extension sleeve for limited sliding movement lengthwise thereof, said bell and said extension sleeve having co-operating bores arranged for registry in one relative lengthwise position therebetween to establish communication to an annular clearance region that encircles said 001- let and opens through the end of said head, said bell having another bore opening to the interior thereof for supplying pressurized propellant thereinto, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the other end of said cylinder to drive said piston through said cylinder and correspondingly actuate said plunger and said collet, a stop sleeve threaded in the lower end of said extension sleeve and said sleeve structure being mounted to a movable operating post through a set of compression springs to yieldably preload said stop sleeve against a cap loosely fitted in a top opening of a container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,951 Lindstrom May 15, 1934 2,235,583 Kronquest et al Mar. 18, 1941 2,411,232 Sedwick Nov. 19, 1946 2,578,815 Kronquest Dec. 18, 1951 2,947,904 Focht Aug. 2, 1960 2,958,170 Mayer Nov. 1, 1960 2,963,834 Stanley et al Dec. 13, 1960 

1. A FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE COMPRISING A MOUNTING NICHE FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING A CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A TOP OPENING EQUIPPED WITH A CAP LOOSELY POSITIONED THEREIN, A HEAD POSITIONED ABOVE SAID NICHE, DRIVING MEANS FOR JOINTLY MOVING SAID HEAD AND NICHE ALONG A PRESCRIBED PATH, FIRST MEANS ON SAID HEAD FOR PRODUCING A SEAL AROUND THE TOP OPENING OF THE CONTAINER, SECOND MEANS CONNECTED THROUGH SAID HEAD FOR DRAWING A VACUUM IN SAID CONTAINER, THIRD MEANS ON SAID HEAD FOR ENGAGING THE CAP AND SUPPORTING THE SAME IN AN ELEVATED POSITION ABOVE THE TOP OPENING OF THE CONTAINER, FOURTH MEANS CONNECTED THROUGH SAID HEAD FOR FEEDING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF PROPELLANT INTO THE CONTAINER, SAID THIRD MEANS AND SAID CAP BEING RAISED ABOVE SAID CONTAINER TOP OPENING BY PRESSURE OF SAID PROPELLANT, FIFTH MEANS IN SAID HEAD FOR LOWERING SAID THIRD MEANS TO SEAT THE CAP IN SAID TOP OPENING AND FOR CRIMPING THE CAP ONTO THE CONTAINER, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO JOINT MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTAINER AND MOUNTING NICHE ALONG SAID PATH FOR ACTUATING SAID FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH MEANS IN PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE. 